Unit 11. How long have you (been) ... ?

Study this example situation:Dan and Jenny are married. They got married exactly 20 years ago, so today is their 20th wedding anniversary.They have been married for 20 years.We say: They are married. (present)but How long have they been married? (present perfect) (not How long are they married?) They have been married for 20 years. (not They are married for 20 sears)

We use the present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still continues now. Compare the present and the present perfect: • Bill is in hospital.but He has been in hospital since Monday. (not Bill is in hospital since Monday)• Do you know each other well?but Have you known each other for a long time? (not Do you know) • She's waiting for somebody.but She's been waiting all morning. • Do they have a car? but How long have they had their car?

I have known/had/lived etc. is the present perfect simple.I have been learning / been waiting / been doing etc. is the present perfect continuous.When we ask or say 'how long', the continuous is more usual (see Unit 10):• I've been learning English for six months.• It's been raining since lunchtime.• Richard has been doing the same job for 20 years.• 'How long have you been driving?' 'Since I was 17.'Some verbs (for example, know/like/believe)are not normally used in the continuous:• How long have you known Jane? (not have you been knowing)• I've had a pain in my stomach all day. (not I've been having)See also Unit 4Aand Unit 10C. For have, see Unit 17.

You can use either the present perfect continuous or simple with live and work: • Julia has been living / has lived in Paris for a long time. • How long have you been working / have you worked here?But we use the simple (I've lived / I've done etc.) with always:• I've always lived in the country. (not always been living)

We say 'I haven't done something since/for ...' (present perfect simple):• I haven't seen Tom since Monday. (= Monday was the last time I saw him) • Sue hasn't phoned for ages. (= the last time she phoned was ages ago)

1 Bob is a friend of mine. I know him very well.2 Bob is a friend of mine. I know him for a long time.3 Sue and Alan are married since July. 4 The weather is awful. It's raining again. 5 The weather is awful. It's raining all day. 6 I like your house. How long are you living there? 7 Gary is working in a shop for the last few months. 8 I don't know Tim well. We've only met a few times 9 I gave up drinking coffee. I don't drink it for a year. 10 That's a very old bike. How long do you have it?

1 John tells you that his mother is in hospital. You ask him: (how long / be / in hospital?) How long has your mother been in hospital? 2 You meet a woman who tells you that she teaches English. You ask her: (how long / teach / English?) ___________________________________________3 You know that Jane is a good friend of Caroline's. You ask Jane: (how long / know / Caroline?) ___________________________________________ 4 Your friend's brother went to Australia some time ago and he's still there. You ask your friend: (how long / be / in Australia?) ___________________________________________ 5 Tim always wears the same jacket. It's a very old jacket. You ask him: (how long / have / that jacket?) ___________________________________________6 You are talking to a friend about Joe. Joe now works at the airport. You ask your friend: (how long / work / at the airport?) ___________________________________________7 A friend of yours is learning to drive. You ask him: (how long / learn / to drive?) ___________________________________________8 You meet somebody on a plane. She says that she lives in Chicago. You ask her: (always / live / in Chicago?) ___________________________________________